Cost of Living Comparison Between Jeju and Zhubei City Cost of Living Comparison Between Jeju and Zhubei City

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,334 per month in Jeju vs $1,119 in Zhubei City, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,290 per month in Jeju vs $2,029 in Zhubei City, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,246 per month in Jeju vs $2,940 in Zhubei City, rent included.

Jeju costs about 19% more than Zhubei City, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Jeju sits 0% above the global median, while Zhubei City is 17% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Jeju
Zhubei City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.71 ₩10.2K
$4.96 NT$156
35.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.2 ₩77.5K
$34.24 NT$1,078
49.42%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.04 ₩6,124
$5.67 NT$178
-28.75%
Cappuccino
$5.21 ₩7,898
$3.70 NT$117
40.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 ₩3,660
$0.98 NT$30.95
146.94%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72 ₩1,087
$0.63 NT$19.82
14.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.98 ₩6,034
$2.26 NT$71.2
76.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.71 ₩8,658
$2.69 NT$84.8
112.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Jeju
Zhubei City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.14 ₩3,248
$3.25 NT$102
-34.15%
White Bread (500g)
$2.25 ₩3,404
$1.99 NT$62.8
13.07%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.23 ₩3,379
$4.34 NT$137
-48.62%
Eggs
$2.61 ₩3,952
$3.02 NT$94.9
-13.58%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.53 ₩16.0K
$13.73 NT$432
-23.31%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.47 ₩12.8K
$8.74 NT$275
-3.09%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$27.80 ₩42.1K
$27.81 NT$875
-0.04%
Apples (1kg)
$7.66 ₩11.6K
$4.38 NT$138
74.89%
Banana (1kg)
$3.12 ₩4,735
$2.58 NT$81.1
20.93%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.68 ₩8,600
$2.78 NT$87.4
104.32%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.35 ₩8,109
$3.95 NT$124
35.44%
Potato (1kg)
$3.02 ₩4,576
$4.02 NT$126
-24.88%
Onion (1kg)
$1.89 ₩2,865
$2.53 NT$79.8
-25.30%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.17 ₩3,292
$2.65 NT$83.3
-18.11%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.46 ₩695
$1.39 NT$43.61
-66.91%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.25 ₩4,925
$4.17 NT$131
-22.06%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.99 ₩25.7K
$9.15 NT$288
85.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.90 ₩2,881
$1.57 NT$49.53
21.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61 ₩2,442
$2.70 NT$84.9
-40.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Jeju
Zhubei City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.86 ₩1,305
$0.65 NT$20.38
32.31%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$38.26 NT$1,204
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.53 ₩3,840
$3.40 NT$107
-25.59%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.53 ₩800
$0.63 NT$19.76
-15.87%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.57 ₩13.0K
$10.19 NT$321
-15.90%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.26 ₩1,913
$1.03 NT$32.39
22.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.0K ₩42.4M
$41.8K NT$1.3M
-33.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.8K ₩37.5M
$27.2K NT$855.7K
-8.85%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jeju
Zhubei City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$159 ₩240.9K
$93.0 NT$2,928
70.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$34.67 ₩52.5K
$33.79 NT$1,064
2.60%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.46 ₩29.5K
$24.60 NT$774
-20.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Jeju
Zhubei City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.23 ₩54.9K
$34.24 NT$1,078
5.81%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$15.27 NT$481
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.88 ₩16.5K
$11.76 NT$370
-7.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Jeju
Zhubei City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$367 ₩556.3K
$690 NT$21.7K
-46.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$24.3K ₩36.8M
$15.2K NT$479.2K
59.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Jeju
Zhubei City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.3 ₩77.7K
$85.4 NT$2,688
-39.92%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.51 ₩44.7K
$47.83 NT$1,505
-38.30%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$66.3 ₩100.5K
$99.9 NT$3,144
-33.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.4 ₩135.5K
$115 NT$3,614
-22.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Jeju
Zhubei City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$501 ₩759.2K
$427 NT$13.4K
17.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$402 ₩609.2K
$212 NT$6,684
89.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,017 ₩1.5M
$1,180 NT$37.1K
-13.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,149 ₩1.7M
$863 NT$27.2K
33.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$9,790 ₩14.8M
$16.8K NT$527.5K
-41.59%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,331 ₩8.1M
$9,937 NT$312.8K
-46.35%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Jeju
Zhubei City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,672 ₩2.5M
$2,432 NT$76.6K
-31.26%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.14
2.4
72.50%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Jeju: June 1, 2026

Last update for Zhubei City: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $501 in Jeju versus $427 in Zhubei City. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 45% higher in Zhubei City, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $51.0 in Jeju versus $34.00 in Zhubei City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $401 vs $394 – making Zhubei City the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Jeju vs Zhubei City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Zhubei City cheaper than Jeju?
Yes – Jeju is pricier by about 19%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,001 per month in Jeju and $1,678 in Zhubei City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Zhubei City, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Jeju or Zhubei City?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $51.0 in Jeju and $34.00 in Zhubei City. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Jeju and Zhubei City?
Groceries cost about 2% more in Jeju, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Jeju or Zhubei City?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Zhubei City, where all-in costs run around $1,119, than in Jeju at $1,334. In Zhubei City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Jeju it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Jeju or Zhubei City more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Zhubei City – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Jeju or Zhubei City?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Zhubei City. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Jeju makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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